The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-05
The Constitution.

OF THE CENTENNIAL OF
ITS SIGNING.
PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO
THE EXPECTED EVENT IN PHrLADEL-
PHIA, AND REVIEW OF THE
FESTIVAL OF 1888.
The subjoined history of proceedings
preliminary to the celebration in Phila-
delpma of the Centennial Anniver-
sary Of the Framing and PRONUNCIATION
Of theConstitution of the United States
is timely, and will be read with interest,
as well, perhaps, as the review of the
original celebration in 1888. The
of New Jersey on the I'd
day of June, 1856, passed resolutions
inviting the Governor and Representa-
tives of the thirteen original States to
assemble in Philadelphia to consider
the propriety of national celebration
of the centennial anniversary of the
framing and promulgation of the Con-
stitution of the United States. In ao-
cordance with this invitation oonven-
ton of the Governors and Representa-
tives of the thirteen Colonial States
and of citizens. was held at Philadel-
phia, September II, 1886, in the Hall
of the Carpenters Company. There
were present the Governors of Della
ware, Georgia, Maryland, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Carolina and Virginia.
In consequence of resolutions adopt
ed at this meeting letters were ad-
dressed by the Hon. Fitzhugh Lee,
Governor of Virginia, as chairman Of
the Committee of Governors of the
Colonial States, to the Governors of all
tho States and Territories of the Union
inviting them to appoint commission
ers to be present at a convention TO be
held at Philadelphia, December 2,
1886.
In response to this request commits
sioners were appointed by the Govern
ers of the following States and Terri
tories, viz. Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mary
land, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missis-
sippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York, North Corolina,
Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, Dakota, Idaho,
Montana, Wyoming.
This Convention of December 2,
1886, elected Hon. John A. Kasson, Of
Iowa, President, and Hampton L. Car
son, Esq, of Philadelphia, Secretary.
A sub-commission was selected, OF
which Amos r. Little, Esq, was made
Chairman, the President and Secretary
of the Convention being added as er-
0ticio members. A committee of citi-
zens was also formed, of which Thomas
Cochran, Esq. was selected as chairman.
The name of ''The Constitutional Cen
tennial Commission" was adopted as
the name of the Commission, and il
was resolved, in regard to the proposed
celebration at Philadelphia in Septem.
Der, 1887:
PROGRAMME MAPPED OUT.
First. That there be an Oration
and Poem in commemoration of the
Signing of the Constitution.
Second. That there be a military
display, in which the United States
shall be invited to be represented by
each branch of its military and naval
service that the several States and
Territories, and the District of Colum.
bia shall be invited to be represented
by their militia and volunteer service
that the President of the United States
be requested to designate officers to
command the same
THIRD That there be an industrial
professional display.
Fourth. That invitations to par.
ticipate in the celebration be extended
to the President of the United States
and his Cabinet, the Federal Judiciary
Congress and the representatives OF
all departments of the National Gov.
ernment, to the Governors of each State
and Territory, to the Judiciaries and
Legislatures of the same and the rep
resentatives of the several departments
thereof, to the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia and to the various
civic organizations and associations Of
the Union, and that the resident rep.
resentatives of foreign governments
having friendly relations with the
United States be invited to participate.
Fifth. That there be created a
suitable memorial in the City of Phila-
delphia, commemorative of the signing
and adoption of the Constitution and
of the progress of the nation since that
period.
The chairman of the committee ap-
pointed by the convention to prepare
an address to the people of the United
States, made stirring and patriotic
report, which was adopted, as follows
"The Convention of Delegates ap.
pointed by the several States and Ter
ritories to take steps towards the cele
bration of the signature of the Consti-
tuition, feel it their just duty to call the
attention of the country, and of both
press and public, to the approach Of
this great anniversary.
at becomes us, also, to recall the
characteristics of the change in the
government of States effected by the
tranquil adoption of a system of checks
to the heated impulses which political
strife has always aroused. The barrier
to hasty Legislation effected by an or.
ganic law, unchangeable except by
processes involving delay, and so s.,
curing an interval in which reflection
might resume Its sway over passion,
was to all practical purposes a novelty
century ago.
"The success Of the great experiment
depended eventually upon the rever-
ence with which men might be brought
to regard the fundamental and supreme
law, aud upon the determination to
consider it, in the nature of things, in
violable, except by the surrender Of
every respectable attribute of an up
right people,
"Upon the existence of this revenue
the statesmen OF 1887 relied, aud to its
existence and preservation their de.
scendants owe whatever is valuable in
the institutions they inherit. To
strengthen and quicken the sense of
the sacredness of this principle and the